CHAPTER 4 — Veins Beneath the Earth
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Chapter 4 — Veins Beneath the Earth
Chin Lin did not repeat the soul split immediately.
The pain was still there—echoing faintly, like cracks that had not yet sealed. His soul felt stretched, fragile, and unbalanced.
Conclusion, he assessed calmly.
Soul stability must be improved before further fragmentation.
Thus began his first training arc.
Increasing Soul Stability
Unable to cultivate Qi directly, Chin Lin trained the only thing he could fully control—focus.
He practiced separation without detachment.
Expansion without escape.
Awareness without division.
Minutes at first.
Then longer.
[Soul Stability: Slightly Improved]
The progress was slow—but measurable.
That alone told him one thing.
The soul can be trained like a muscle.
The Rat's Discovery
When his stability reached a tolerable level, Chin Lin sent out a tiny fragment once more—smaller than before, weaker, but safer.
The dead field rat lay where he had left it.
This time, instead of roaming aimlessly, the fragment followed instinct.
The rat's nose twitched.
It moved.
Slowly. Unnaturally.
Behind the Chin family's house, beyond a slope overgrown with weeds, the rat dragged itself toward a half-collapsed rock wall.
There—
A crack.
Faint light seeped from within.
Qi—dense Qi.
Interesting…
The rat slipped through.
Inside was a shallow underground pocket—barely large enough for an adult to crouch. Embedded in the stone walls were dull green crystals, rough and unpolished.
Spiritual stones.
Low-grade.
But numerous.
[Hidden Resource Discovered]
[Low-Grade Spiritual Stone Vein]
The system reacted instantly.
[Resource Points +10]
Chin Lin nearly lost control.
Ten points… from one discovery.
The soul fragment trembled violently.
Enough.
He withdrew it at once.
The pain was still sharp—but manageable.
Progress.
Family Struggle
That evening, Chin Lin overheard hushed voices.
His parents.
"…We may have to sell it," his father said quietly.
"No," his mother replied immediately. "That pill was meant for Lin's future."
"If we don't," his father said bitterly, "we won't survive winter."
Chin Lin understood.
A low-grade Body Refining Pill.
Probably the only treasure the family possessed.
If they sell it, my cultivation foundation will weaken, he reasoned.
If they keep it, the family may suffer.
An unacceptable outcome.
A Subtle Intervention
That night, Chin Lin cried.
Loudly.
Relentlessly.
Qi in the room stirred faintly—just enough to be noticed.
His mother froze.
"…Did you feel that again?"
His father hesitated, then nodded.
"Lin's body… it's responding."
The next morning, his father made a decision.
"We keep the pill," he said firmly. "If Lin has even the smallest chance… we take it."
Chin Lin relaxed internally.
Intervention successful.
First Body Refinement
With Resource Points available, Chin Lin acted.
[Resource Conversion Initiated]
[Body Refinement: Beginner Level]
[Cost: 5 Resource Points]
Warmth spread through his tiny body.
Not violent.
Not painful.
Controlled.
His bones tingled. His organs strengthened subtly. His breathing deepened.
[Body Refinement: 1% Complete]
One percent.
But perfect.
No damage. No instability.
Chin Lin smiled inwardly.
"This is correct," he thought.
"Slow. Measured. Optimal."
Outside, his parents stared in shock as their infant son slept peacefully—his complexion healthier than it had ever been.
Looking Forward
Chin Lin checked his status.
Name: Chin Lin
Bloodline: None
Body Refinement: Beginner (1%)
Soul Refinement: Stabilizing
Cultivation: Mortal Foundation
Resource Points: 6
Hidden resources.
A functioning system.
A family worth protecting.
Chin Lin closed his eyes.
"The path is clear," he thought.
"And this time—
I won't waste my life."